Mark Kelly: “I, too, have been a member of the Board of Visitors of West Point for 8 years. Mr. Speaker, the freedom of this Nation…”

“I, too, have been a member of the Board of Visitors of West Point for 8 years. Mr. Speaker, the freedom of this Nation was bought through the ideas of democracy and independence of our Founding Fathers, but those ideas would never have come into a reality without a commitment of men to fight for those ideals. Throughout our country's history, we have been led through tumultuous times by the men and women of the military who are motivated by a deep patriotism and a willingness to put their lives on the line to defend our Nation and keep us safe. It is no secret that many of the great leaders of these brave men and women have been trained on the hallowed grounds of West Point. As mentioned before, George Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ulysses Grant, and Douglas MacArthur are just a few of the names on a long list of the leading American soldiers who obtained the tools to become great American leaders as cadets on the banks of the Hudson River at West Point. Our Nation owes a continuing debt of gratitude to strong men and women who are at The Point and who have graduated from The Point and are leading our armies even now. I am proud that this illustrious institution is in my district. The history of The Point, dating from the very first days of the revolutionary war to the present, is one of heroism and leadership.”